It’s official: Summer ‘s over

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) on Tuesday officially announced the onset of the rainy season, as the country transitions from dry to wet weather.

Pagasa Climate Monitoring and Prediction officer-in-charge Anthony Lucero said the dry season is over.

Cloudy skies with scattered rains, particularly in the afternoon, are expected in the days ahead.

Lucero said a “weak” El Niño is still present in the tropical Pacific, and is expected to end in July.

La Niña conditions will follow during the second half of 2016.

La Niña is characterized by a persistent cooler than average sea surface temperature over the tropical Pacific.

La Niña conditions favor the formation of tropical cyclones over the western Pacific, thus increasing the number of tropical cyclones.

La Niña, according to the weather bureau, will start to develop in August.

It will get stronger in November or December and will last until February 2017, where stronger typhoons are expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

Esperanza Cayanan, the weather division chief, said eight to 17 tropical cyclones are expected to enter the country until October.

Stronger typhoons will be felt in the last quarter of the year.

The first tropical cyclone will be named “Ambo.”

Lucero said the eastern side of the Philippines will be more affected by La Niña.